Passus duodecimus
Þouȝe I sitte bi my-self · in sikenesse neBx.12.2: ne: So LMR, defining neuere. The and of most other mss. is an obvious easier reading, defining the a-verse. See Adams (2000), 179. in helthe
To amende it in þi myddel age · lest miȝte þe faylledBx.12.7: faylled: L and beta2 (CrWHm) have the past subjunctive, "were to fail", which is perhaps less obvious than the present faile of all other mss. There is no parallel in C for Bx.12.4-61.
Bx.12.12KD.12.11
With poustees of pestilencesBx.12.12: pestilences: Alpha's penaunce(s) is a curious error. [·] with pouerte and with angres
And þow medlest þe with makyng[e]Bx.12.19: makynge: Alpha has the sg. and all beta mss. except M have the plural. There is a parallel with the John But ending of A, presumably derived from this line, And for he medleþ of makyng he made þis ende (K.12.109). · and myȝtest go sey þi sauter
¶ I seigh wel he sayde me soth · andBx.12.23: and: R's ac may represent alpha, with F substituting and, in coincidental agreement with beta. somwhat me to excuse
Bx.12.24KD.12.21
SeidBx.12.24: Seid: Alpha begins And seide, to the detriment of the syntax. catoun conforted his sone · þat clerke þough he were
To solacen hym sum-tyme · asBx.12.25: as: Alpha has and, though in a rewritten b-verse in F. I do whan I make
Bx.12.28KD.12.24
Pleyden þe parfiter · to be in many placesBx.12.28: places: R's a place may represent alpha. F rewrites.
Fides spes caritas &Bx.12.34: &: Not in alpha. The text cited by Alford (1992), 78-9, has it; the Clementine Vulgate (I Cor. 13.13) is without it. maior horum &c
Feith hope and charitee · andBx.12.35: and (2): Following the Latin of the previous line, this is dropped in alpha. alle ben good
Bx.12.40KD.12.35
¶Bx.12.40: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. Riȝt so if þow be Religious · renne þow neuere ferther
¶Bx.12.50: ¶: The paraph is in LC, with a new line-group in M. Catel and kynde witte · was combraunce to hem alle
Þe bewte of hir body · in badnesse sheBx.12.53: badnesse she: Alpha's badd vse is probably avoidance of a noun rare at this date, though strikingly Langland uses neither the noun badnesse nor the adjective bad elsewhere. dispended
Bx.12.62-6: Omitted in beta. The first three lines are in Cx (RK.14.17-18a). KD, p. 66, very plausibly suggest the omission was caused by homeoteleuton (soule(s) ll. 60, 65, followed by a Latin line). We alter the spellings of R to those of L. [So catel and kynde witte · acombreth ful many
Bx.12.64KD.12.56α
Scienti & non facienti variis flagellis vapulabitBx.12.64: In part loosely based on Luke 12.47. Alford (1992), 79, quoting the form of the citation adopted by Schmidt and KD from the
P family of C, does not note the closer parallel in James 4.17, "Scienti igitur bonum facere et non facienti, peccatum est illi". Based
on this, F has added bonum, but it is not included in R or in mss. of C.
Bx.12.68KD.12.59
Ac grace is a grasse þer-[fore]Bx.12.68: þer-fore: Alpha is supported by Cx and by sense against beta's þer-of. For the sense of grasse, "healing herb", see MED gras n. 2(b). · þo greuaunces to abate
PacienceBx.12.70: Pacience: R begins Of pacience. F drops the line, which is not in Cx. and pouerte · þe place is þere it groweth
Bx.12.72KD.12.63
And þorugh þeBx.12.72: þe (1): Not in R. F rewrites. gyfte of þe holygoste · as þe gospel telleth
Of quod scimus cometh clergye · [a]Bx.12.77: a: Beta evidently interpreted the indefinite article as a form of and. Alpha is supported by the revised line in Cx (RK.14.34). connynge of heuene
Bx.12.80KD.12.69
Knewe neuere clerke how it cometh forth · ne kynde witte [his]Bx.12.80: his: "its", referring to Grace and following on from it. R represents alpha, misunderstood by F. Beta has þe. weyes
In þe olde lawe as þe lettre telleth · þat wasBx.12.85: þat was: R (= alpha?) drops þat; F rewrites. Alpha's reading is quite possibly right, but it is ambiguous, appearing to mean "The Jewish Law was in the Old
Law", whereas the line has to mean "In the Old Law, which was the Jewish Law". þe lawe of iewes
Bx.12.88KD.12.76
Bx.12.88: Alpha omits the line, as a result of homeoteleuton. (Note that R's form of "death" in l. 87 is dede). A womman as we fynden · was gulty of þat dede
Bx.12.100KD.12.88
AsBx.12.100: As: R's Ac may be taken as alpha (F has But as often). The sense is "just as Christ's writing both comforted the woman and revealed her to be guilty". But correlative
bothe is oddly placed. crystes carecte conforted [·] and bothe coupable shewed
Bx.12.104KD.12.91
Dampneth vs atte daye of dome · as [dede] þe carect[e]Bx.12.104: dede þe carecte: We follow alpha in the word-order and the sg. noun. Beta has reverted to unmarked order, spoiling the metre. For sg. carecte, "writing", altered to pl. by some scribes, cf. l. 100. þe iewes
Bx.12.112KD.12.99
For as a man may nouȝt se · þat mysseth his eyghenBx.12.112: eyghen: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's siȝte.
And seynt spirit þe saumplarye · and seide what menBx.12.115: men: Alpha and O have man, as in the next line, but Cx agrees with beta. sholde write
Riȝt so le[r]ethBx.12.117: lereth: So alpha, supported by Cx (RK.14.49). Beta's ledeth makes excellent sense. letterure · lewed men to resoun
Bx.12.120KD.12.107
Namore kan a kynde-wittedBx.12.120: kynde-witted: "with innate intelligence". R's kende wedded presumably represents alpha, with F rewriting as lewid to make sense. man · but clerkes hym teche
Bx.12.124KD.12.111
ȜyueBx.12.124: Ȝyue: Beta is supported by Cx. The readings of RF reflect confusion in alpha. mercy for her mysdedes · if men it wole aske
Hadde neuere lewed man leue · to leggen honde on þatBx.12.127: þat: Evidently the Bx reading supported by Cx, though MCGO have þe and F rewrites. chest
Bx.12.129-39: Beta drops 11 lines, presumably skipping from paraph to paraph. Cx has parallels for all except ll. 131-2. We alter the spellings of R to those of L. [¶ Saul for he sacrifisedBx.12.129: he sacrifised: R's a-verse is supported by Cx. · sorwe hym bitydde
Bx.12.132KD.12.119
Þat with archa dei ȝedenBx.12.132: ȝeden: For alliteration of ȝede with vowels, see Turville-Petre (1980), 314, and cf. e.g. Bx.11.357, 20.136, and 16.178 "And ȝede forth as an ydiote · in contre to aspye", which also has the mute stave in. KD instead adopt F's wentyn and the b-verse order (based on F) worship and reuerence. There is no parallel in Cx. · in reuerence and in worship
And leyden honde þer-on to liften it vp · and loren her lif afterBx.12.133: The line is not in the P family of Cx. In the X family it reads: "And all lewede þat leide hand þeron loren lyf aftir" (RK.14.63). Alpha clearly had and before loren, spoiling the construction.
For-þi I conseille alle creatures · no clergie toBx.12.134: to: R is supported by Cx against F's yee. dispise
Ne sette shorteBx.12.135: shorte: R is supported by Cx against lyght in F. be here science · what-so þei don hem-selue
Bx.12.136KD.12.123
Take weBx.12.136: we: F omits, but R is supported by Cx. her wordes at worthe · forBx.12.136: for: F omits, but R is supported by Cx. here witnesseBx.12.136: witnesse: A plural form (see MED), as unambiguously spelt by F. C mss. split, but the most authoritative have witnesses. Cf. Bx.2.149, 9.77 (and note), 12.280 (and note). be trewe
And medleBx.12.137: medle: Both F and Cx omit R's ne, but in other respects R's line is supported by Cx. F rewrites for the sense. we nauȝt muche with hem · to meuen any wrathe
Lest cheste chasenBx.12.138: chasen: Cx has the line as in R, but with chaufen "inflame"; chasen is surely an alpha or Bx error. vs · to choppe vche man other
Bx.12.140KD.12.126
¶ For clergye is kepereBx.12.140: kepere: So beta. R has kynge and kepere, F has keye & kepere. Cx rewrites the line. [·] vnder cryst of heuene
Bx.12.144KD.12.130
¶ Lyueres to-forn vs · vseden to markeBx.12.144: marke: Alpha's make is obviously wrong. Beta is supported by Cx.
Bx.12.148KD.12.134
Ne brouȝteBx.12.148: brouȝte: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's bouȝte. by her bokes · to blisse ne to ioye
For alle her kynde knowynges · comeBx.12.149: come: Past tense plural; cf. the form cam in alpha and also C mss. but of dyuerse sightes
¶Bx.12.150: ¶: The paraph is in LW with a new line-group in M. Patriarkes and prophetes · repreuedBx.12.150: repreued: Alpha's present tense is clearly wrong; Cx supports beta. her science
And seiden her wordes ne her wisdomesBx.12.151: wisdomes: Though R has the sg., Cx supports beta's plural. · [w]asBx.12.151: was: Alpha's alliterating verb is supported by Cx; the P family have ne was, as of course Bx might have had. but a folye
Sapiencia huius mundi · stulticiaBx.12.153: stulticia: MWCGF correct the quotation by adding est, as in Cx. The medial punctuation, unusual for a non-metrical Latin line (though cf. l. 164), is recorded in LMCrHmF. apud deum
Bx.12.154-64: These 11 lines are lost in alpha, jumping from one Latin line to another, and possibly from paraph to paraph, though only
WHm record a paraph at l. 154. The lines are paralleled in Cx, apart from ll. 159 and 164. For þe heihe holigoste · heuene shal to-cleue
Bx.12.164KD.12.147α
Set non eratBx.12.164: erat: Beta2 (CrWHm) adds ei in line with the source; see Alford (1992), 80. locus in diuersorio [·] & pauper non habet diuersorium
¶ To pastours and to poetes [·] appiered þatBx.12.165: þat: So LM. Choice is difficult, since the other beta mss. read þe, as does Cx, while alpha reads an. LM agreement nearly always establishes the beta reading. Perhaps Bx þat was rejected by other beta scribes and by alpha because it has no antecedent. aungel
And songeBx.12.167: songe (1): R and the P family of C have syngen. a songe of solas · gloria in excelsis deo
Bx.12.168KD.12.151
Bx.12.168-9: Beta drops 2 lines, both in Cx, perhaps skipping from paraph to paraph. We alter the spellings of R to those of L. [¶ Riche men rutte þo · andBx.12.168: and: R is supported by Cx against F's þat. in here reste were
¶Bx.12.170: ¶: The paraph is in beta only, following its loss of text. See note to ll. 168-9. ClerkesBx.12.170: Clerkes: Alpha's addition of And is not supported by Cx. knewe it wel · and comen with here presentz
And deden her homage honourabelyBx.12.171: honourabely: L miswrites the word. · to hym þat was almyȝtyBx.12.171: CGO follow with a spurious line.
Bx.12.172KD.12.155
Why I haue toldeBx.12.172: tolde: So evidently beta, though CGO add þe. R also has þe, probably representing alpha (F alters to told þis tale). Most C mss. have þe, though ms. X is without it. It seems easier added than lost. al þis · I toke ful gode hede
Bx.12.176KD.12.159
¶ And þow seidest soth of somme · ac se in what manereBx.12.176: what manere: R offers an extreme example of his willingness to reproduce his exemplar with whanere. F makes sense of it.
And bothe naked as a nedle · her none sykerBx.12.178: syker: The agreement of L, original M and R is sufficient to establish Bx. Others (including M) make the obvious correction to sikerer, "stronger" (MED siker 2 (b)), though see KD p. 179, who conjecture an original reading sadder. Cx has instead heuegore, "heavier". See Adams (2000), 179. þan other
Bx.12.180KD.12.163
Þat other is lewed of þat laboure · lerned neuere swymmeBx.12.180: swymme: LWR; as often, scribes tend to add the infinitive marker to. In C the X family has it, but the P family is without.
He þat neuere neBx.12.182: ne (1): As in LWCO, but not in MCrHmG and alpha. It improves the alliteration, yet may not be Bx. Cx revises to alliterate on /s/. dyued · ne nouȝt can of swymmynge
Bx.12.186: Alpha drops the line, which is supported by Cx. Its loss is easily accounted for if Bx had the paraph that is recorded only by L (though MW have a line-space). See Burrow (2010), 25. ¶ Þat swymme can nouȝt I seide · it semeth to my wittes
Out of synne and beBx.12.189: be: CrR have he be. It is not supported by Cx. sauf · þough he synne ofte
As þow seest in þe sauter · in psalmeBx.12.193: psalme: The odd sg. is certainly Bx; it is the reading of LMR (and F), though M corrects to the more obvious plural. Cx has the plural. one or tweyne
Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates & quorum tecta sunt &cBx.12.195: &c: Alpha adds peccata. The familiar verse from Psalm 31.1 is quoted in part several times; cf. Bx.13.56, 14.103. Cx ends with iniquitates. ·
Bx.12.196KD.12.178
And þis conforteth vch a clerke · and keuerethBx.12.196: keuereth: Supported by Cx (and sense) against alpha's kenneth. hym fram wanhope
And hath no contricioun ar he come to shryfte · & þanneBx.12.199: þanne: Beta has support from Cx against alpha's omission. can he litel telle
Bx.12.200KD.12.182
AndBx.12.200: And: WHm + F have But. Although this reading is preferable and is supported by Cx, it is unlikely to be the Bx reading. as his lores-man leres hym · bileueth & troweth
And þat is after person or parisch prest · and parauenture [bothe]Bx.12.201: bothe: Beta drops, and WO expand a short b-verse. Alpha is supported by Cx, which, however, indicates that Bx broke the line too early. Cx reads paraunter bothe lewede / To lere lewede men ... (RK.14.123-4).
Bx.12.204KD.12.186
¶ Wo was hym marked · þat wade mote with þe lewedBx.12.204: Alpha drops the line, which is preserved in Cx.
Wel may þe barne blisse · þat hym to boke setteBx.12.205: to boke sette: Beta is supported by Cx and by the alliterative pattern against alpha's sette to scole.
Þe thef þat had grace of god · on gode fryday as þow spekeBx.12.210: speke: Past tense 2nd sg. (cf. CrCG), misunderstood as present by WHmO. Cx reads toldest.
Was for he ȝelte hym creauntBx.12.211: creaunt: MR read recreaunt. Cx has the shorter form. to cryst on þe crosseBx.12.211: on þe crosse: Not in Cx, but certainly in Bx, perhaps as a gloss. CrHmF adopt different ways of shortening the line. For the same phrase see l. 234. · & knewleched hym gulty
Bx.12.212KD.12.194
Bx.12.212: The line is dropped in alpha. W strengthens the alliteration. Cx has And god is ay gracious to alle þat gredeth to hym (RK.14.133). And grace axed of god · and he is euer redy
Bx.12.214: Hm and alpha start a new paragraph here.Ac þough þat þef had heuene · he hadde none heigh blisse
As seynt Iohan and other seyntes · þat asseruedBx.12.215: asserued: Supported for Bx by LR and the majority of C mss. against the common deserued of other B witnesses. See Adams (2000), 184. hadde bettere
He sitte neither with SeyntBx.12.221: Seynt: Alpha drops the word, but it is necessary for the alliteration and supported by Cx. Iohan · SymondeBx.12.221: Symonde: R begins the b-verse with ne perhaps correctly (F rewrites). In C the X family has it, the P family is without. ne Iude
Ne wyth maydenes ne with martires [·] [ne]Bx.12.222: ne (3): In this case the support for R's ne is stronger (cf. previous line). Though F and Cx revise, they share the ne at the start of the b-verse. confessoures ne wydwes
Bx.12.228KD.12.209
It were noyther resoun ne riȝt · to rewarde botheBx.12.228: bothe: Following R, supported by Cx (RK.14.148). MF substitute hem, while all beta mss. apart from M have hem bothe. aliche
¶Bx.12.229: ¶: The paraph is recorded by LW, with M starting a new line-group. And riȝt as troianus þe trewe knyȝt · tildeBx.12.229: tilde: Beta2 (CrWHm) has the easier dwelte. nouȝt depe in helle
Þat owre lorde ne had hym liȝtlich oute · so leue I þe thefBx.12.230: thef: Alpha, reproduced by R, misread þe þef and lost the noun; F repairs. be in heuene
For he is in þe lowest of heueneBx.12.231: lowest of heuene: "lowest part of heaven"; so LWHmR and the X family of C. MCrCGO omit of, as does the P family. · if owre bileue be trewe
Bx.12.232KD.12.213
And wel loselycheBx.12.232: loselyche: Commentators take this as a form of MED losli(e, "loosely", interpreting "precariously" (Kane (2005)). It is clear that some scribes also took it this way (so CG lowselyche, F loosly), but the careful beta2 spelling loselly suggests instead derivation from losel, "worthless person", as in Bx.P.77, 10.52, 15.142. C scribes had considerable difficulty with the word, the majority taking it as a form of loveli. he lolleth þere · by þe lawe of holycherche
Quia redditBx.12.233: Quia reddit: The beta reading; beta2 (CrWHm) begins Qui, and M is altered to that reading. Alpha, represented by R, begins And reddite, which may be right, since Cx has Et reddet. The injunction is phrased variously throughout the Bible: see Alford (1992), 80. vnicuique iuxta opera sua &c
¶ A[c]Bx.12.234: Ac: The alpha reading, as in R, with F altering to But as usual. It is supported by Cx. why þat one thef onBx.12.234: on: Beta, together with F, against R's vpon. Choice is difficult, since C mss. also vary, but Cx probably had vpon. þe crosse · creaunt hym ȝelt
Bx.12.236KD.12.216
Alle þe clerkes vnder cryst · ne couthe þe skil assoilleBx.12.236: assoile: Beta supported by Cx, against alpha's telle.
[¶]Bx.12.238: ¶: The paraph, though not in L, is recorded in beta2 and alpha. And so I sey by þe · þat sekest after þe whyes
Bx.12.240KD.12.219
Bx.12.240-3: The syntax makes it clear that alpha's order is right. Beta reverses it through eyeskip from it were in l. 239 to it were in l. 241, supplying skipped 240-1 after 242-3. Only Bx.12.242 is in Cx (RK.14.158). [And willest of briddes and ofBx.12.240: of (2): Omitted by CrCGO and supplied in L, but supported by MWHmR. bestes · and of hire bredyng toBx.12.240: to: Dropped in HmCGO. knowe
Where-of þei cacche her colouresBx.12.243: coloures: Beta's pl. follows from hewes in the previous line, though alpha has the sg. There is no parallel for Bx.12.243-82 in Cx. · so clere and so briȝte]
Þat þere þe þorne is thikkest · [þere]Bx.12.249: þere (2): The repetition as in alpha clarifies the syntax and provides b-verse alliteration, though without it the pattern aaa/bb
would be satisfactory. to buylden and brede
And kynde kennedBx.12.250: kenned: The past tense is supported by LMWR; cf. the next line. þe pecok · to cauken in swich a kynde
And [kynde]Bx.12.251: kynde: Easily lost before kennede in beta, especially in the context of the punning kynde in the previous line. It provides alliteration for the a-verse. kenned Adam · to knowe his pryue membres
And þat isBx.12.261: þat is: WHm drop is, and Cr drops both words. þe pekok & þe pohenne proude ·Bx.12.261: In LMR the punctuation follows pohenne proude. In beta2 and O the punctuation precedes proude riche, while C drops proude. There is better support for proude as qualifying pohenne in an aaa/xx line. The usual word-order in Middle English is adj. + n. + adj. rather than adj. + adj. + n. riche men þeiBx.12.261: þei: Dropped in WHm. bitokneth
For þe pekok and men pursue hym · mayBx.12.262: may: R's ne may could be alpha, since F has he may, but note that Cr adds he. nouȝte fleighe heighe
And deleth it nouȝt tyl his deth-day · þe tailleBx.12.267: taille: "tally", with a pun on "tail". M is altered to conform to Beta2. M also adds is, which improves the syntax but is not Bx. of al sorwe
Bx.12.268KD.12.249
Riȝt as þe pennes of þe pecok · paynedBx.12.268: payned: M alters to the expected present tense, in line with CrW, and OF also have the present, but the past is supported by LHmCGR. hym in his fliȝte
His ledne be in owre lordes ere · lyke a pyesBx.12.274: pyes: The M corrector adds chiteryng to bring the text in line with Beta2 (CrWHm). Clearly the Bx b-verse (attested by LR, original M, as well as CGO) is too short. F rewrites. Schmidt (1995), 389, conjectures misdivision
between ll. 273-4, with I leue beginning l. 274 and the a-verse ending be.
And alle þe other þer it lyth · enuenymedBx.12.277: enuenymed: p.ppl., with "are" understood. The reading of LCrR and probably original M, subsequently corrected to the easier present
tense of all other mss. þorgh his attere
By þe p[o]feetBx.12.278: pofeet: The L scribe writes the word correctly and then alters it to profeet. is vnderstonde · as I haue lerned in auynet
Bx.12.280KD.12.261
Þat was writen and þei witnesseBx.12.280: witnesse: A noun, sg. or pl., "they as witness(es)". R is unambiguously plural. See note to Bx.12.136. · to worche riȝt as itBx.12.280: it: So beta, against alpha he. See KD, p. 146, who explain it as referring to "the actual testamentary document". wolde
Þus þe poete preues ·Bx.12.281: W shows understandable uncertainty over the placing of the half-line break, with punctuation after both preueþ and pecok; LMR support the former. þat þe pecok for his fetheres is reuerenced
¶ ArestotleBx.12.287: Arestotle: Alpha begins For aristotel. We follow copy-text. þe grete clerke [·] suche tales he telleth
Bx.12.288KD.12.269
Bx.12.288: Only L has a paraph.Thus he lykneth in his logykBx.12.288: logyk: Beta is supported by the alliteration and by Cx; alpha has glosinge. · þe leste foule oute
And where he be sauf or nouȝt saufBx.12.289: sauf (2): CrCGOF omit, but it is supported by Cx (RK.14.192). · þe sothe wote no clergye
Bx.12.292KD.12.273
To wissen vs weyes þere-with · þat wissenBx.12.292: wissen (2): A spelling of "wish", influenced by (and punning on) wissen in the a-verse. vs to be saued
For lettred men were lewed menBx.12.295: men (2): Omitted by CGOF, but supported by Cx. ȝut · ne were lore of herBx.12.295: her: Beta only, since R has þe and F omits. Cx probably reads þo clerkes. bokes
And he isBx.12.303: is: Since this is omitted in R and inserted in L, it is possible that the ellipsis is Bx; however the verb is in Cx. sauf so seith þe boke · and his soule in heuene
Bx.12.304KD.12.285
[Ac]Bx.12.304: Ac: R (= alpha, F has But as usual) is supported by the X family of C (most of the P family omit the conjunction). Schmidt (1995), 457, argues that it "has the force of Sed in scholastic debate (`but) now'". However, it might have been picked up from l. 307. For discussion of the passage see Burrow (1993), 13-14. þere is fullyng of fonte · and fullyng in blode shedyng
¶ Ac trewth þat trespassed neuere · ne transuersedBx.12.307: transuersed: Though most beta mss. have trauersed, the form in LCr and alpha is also in many C mss. and is the Cx form at RK.3.446. The two verbs are of the same ultimate origin. aȝeines his lawe
Bx.12.308KD.12.288
But lyue[d] as his lawe t[auȝte]Bx.12.308: lyued ... tauȝte: Alpha's past tense is supported by Cx. · and leueth þere be no bettere
Ne wolde neuere trewe god · but [trewe]Bx.12.310: trewe (2): Beta drops the adjective and F rewrites; R is supported by Cx. treuth were allowed
And where it worth or worth nouȝtBx.12.311: The a-verse is supported by LMR, with minor variations in the other mss. Where and were are both forms of "whether" as in W; see MED whether adv. & conj. C mss. vary similarly, with the P family reversing the order of worth nouȝt. · þe bileue is grete of treuth
Bx.12.312KD.12.292
And an hope hangyng þer-inne · to haue aBx.12.312: a: Supported by LWHmR. Cx rewrites the b-verse. Mede for his treuth
And moche murth and manhod · and riȝt withBx.12.318: with: Schmidt adopts R's mid for alliteration; see Schmidt (2008), 412. It would be easy to suppose that this was independently altered by F and beta,
but Cx has þerwith following a different a-verse. þat he vanesched